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A few years ago, I heard the question, “There is a reasonable hope that all are saved.” Michael Voris was repeating what Bishop Robert Barron said Urs von Balthasar said Karl Barth said. Voris was shaking his head as he said it; the bishop was not, and I suppose Balthasar and Barth also believed it. That question prompted me to do my daily Bible reading with a particular focus: “Where in the Bible would anyone get that impression?” Where does it say, or imply, that all are saved?

Over the past few years I have compiled quite a list of Bible references that seem to dispute this notion. I have not been able to find the one quote that is so significant that no other passage could possibly stand. Or, conversely, the one passage that supports the empty Hell theory. Since I am no Biblical scholar or theologian, I approached trying to argue against a giant like Balthasar, or a brilliant priest like Barron with a great deal of fear: clearly I was missing something. Clearly, any justification I might find that they could use, I was missing. Clearly any justification that I might use, I was missing.

I met Fr Jack when I was in high school. Some 40 years later, we still keep in touch; and altho he is now a semi-retired parish priest, he still reads the Bible in Greek and Hebrew. He is absolutely convinced that Jesus left no wriggle room. Nothing Jesus said leaves any doubt. I have known Fr Jack for more than half my life; I could not possibly hold him in higher esteem.

But, a couple of weeks ago, finding yet another passage that just screamed “few are saved” I had a Damascus Road experience, an epiphany that was appropriate for me. (So, no voices, no thunderstorm, etc.)

The most significant statement is not the Bible itself, or any words in the Bible. There is nothing that Jesus said or did that speaks louder to the question than simply, Him. He is The Word (gee, where have I seen that?)

While all things are possible with GOD, it was His original thought that we humans should have free will. This is absolutely fundamental to who (what) we are. This, I believe, is what is meant by we are created in His Image. Free will is our sine qua non.

And so, Jesus Christ was born of a woman, just like the rest of us. He spent some time with us. Not too long and not too short. Just enough to make a point – for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

You see, if we are all saved, if we are all going to Heaven anyway, there would have been no point in anything remotely like Jesus Christ, a Messiah. I suppose some would have needed a magical figure to tell us we were on the right path anyway. Or, it didn’t really matter what we did during this life, we were destined – whether we wanted it or not – to an eternity of milk and honey and song and dance.

But, that’s not what happened. We did get Jesus Christ. Thousands of years and thousands of pages and gallons of ink spoke of His coming. Of the need for His coming. Afterwards, a few hundred years and a few hundred pages told us of His life here. If we are all doing the right thing, then why? Why all those years of discussion and countless parchments and pages and gallons? Just an academic exercise? I think not.

There is that one passage in Isaiah where the lion lays down with the sheep (Isaiah 11:6), which might imply that, regardless of whether we are a lion or a sheep, in the end it won’t matter. I’d like a Biblical scholar or theologian to help with this passage because I can’t really find that much credence in it. I don’t mean to cherry-pick the Bible, but it doesn’t seem to me that either the lion or the sheep are living within Natural Law. So, I don’t see this one passage as justification for the idea that all are saved.

In any event, the mere existence of Jesus Christ proves that we are not a priori saved. Maybe we are, after all anything is possible. But, then we wouldn’t need Jesus Christ. We could ignore Him, casually, completely.

Some would argue that we don’t have Free Will. Ok, if we don’t, then again, there is no point in Jesus Christ. It seems to me that our Free Will absolutely demands Jesus Christ. And, Jesus Christ proves that we do have Free Will. Dunno if you don’t believe in Jesus Christ if you can have Free Will or not; I’ll save that for later (much later).

My years of careful, pointed, focused reading have lead me to just one conclusion: my salvation, at the very least, is not guaranteed. It is not written in stone, or in some book somewhere. I can still screw up – I pray that I don’t. I pray every day that I do stay on the Right Road (and I am thankful that, for the grace of GOD, I did find the Right Road). Maybe I just need Jesus Christ, and some do not? Well, I don’t think that is true, and I certainly would not encourage anyone to think that they can do without. But, I do have a Faith that requires that I do believe in Jesus Christ; and that He is “the point.”

Is there a “reasonable hope that all are saved”? Obviously, there is a growing number of people who do think that; Voris calls that the “Church of Feel Good.” And, he’s right. For those who want this life to be as comfortable as possible, they must hope they can still sneak under the wire when the get to the Pearly Gates. But this does not answer the question of why Jesus went to the Cross. Whatever His life was like, it did not end well. He’s in Glory now, but that transition from this life to Eternal Life was, well, hell.

So, I don’t belong to the Church of Feel Good. I do “fear” GOD. I know that Christ stands at the door of my heart and knocks (Revelation 3:20); and the things of this world make so much noise that it is damned hard to hear Him.

Oh, and don’t get me started on whether we are all going to see each other in Heaven. Or, if our pets will join us.

Jesus Christ. What’s the point? My salvation. For eternity is a long time.

“Anyone baptized in the church in Berlin is always at home in the church in Rome or in New York or in Kinshasa or in Bangalore or wherever, as if he or she had been baptized there.”

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

Having traveled extensively in both the US and around the world, I never gave a second thought of what I was going to get when I walked into a Roman Catholic Church, either for Mass, or for prayer. And, I was never surprised. Perhaps I have become complacent?

I read more and more often about how the Church is changing, both at the pontifical level and at the local level. I think there are a lot of miles between Seattle and Rome, and so I have tended to pay only cursory attention to the Vatican. Closer to home – the US in general, not Seattle in particular – I see things changing significantly. And what I see is frightening.

While I would prefer the Traditional Latin Mass, I have no real (significant) problem attending Mass in a building that doesn’t look like a church, or in which the Tabernacle is hidden away in some broom closet. Yes, the modern rite of the Mass is distracting, and I do consider all the falderal penance; but I still go to Mass.

More and more however, I read that individual parishes or entire diocese are moving in a direction that I find untenable. This recent headline to a blog I follow: “San Diego, Third Largest LBGT diocese in the United States.”

And, what I am feeling is that I am not only no longer welcome in the Church I grew up in; I must, in following my conscience, stop attending Mass. In other words, Pope Francis’ so-called “pastoral” approach – smelling like the sheep – is driving me away from the Church.

We are not talking about external or foreign forces like the Soviet Union or Red China. We are talking about the Bishop of Rome taking a left turn at Albuquerque and taking 2000 years of Tradition and millions of faithful down the tubes with him.

I took an oath, many years ago, to protect the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That was during the Cold War, and there really was only one enemy of note and it was most definitely foreign. I have been aware for many years that some people seemed to find their reason for living the bashing of the Roman Catholic Church. Now, I am finding that the enemies of the Church to be feared the most are not to be found in the Democrat Party, but inside the Church itself.

I am thankful that I can still go to Mass and still find what I need. But, I can foresee the day when I am going to have to shop around for another parish that hasn’t lost its way. And, I fear for the day when I might have stop taking my Twins to Mass.

Until then, I thank GOD I do not live in San Diego.

+++

“Anyone baptized in the church in Berlin is always at home in the church in Rome or in New York or in Kinshasa or in Bangalore or wherever, as if he or she had been baptized there. He or she does not need to file a change-of-address form; it is one and the same Church.”

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

As quoted by Abyssus Abyssum Invocat in his blog, “The Kasper Heresy met its Match in 2000 with Cardinal Ratzinger but it has been embraced by Francis, 2017 May 29

SAN DIEGO, California, May 29, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – Last month, Pope Francis named the pastor of an avowedly pro-LGBT Catholic parish as San Diego’s newest auxiliary bishop, to serve under prominent liberal Bishop Robert McElroy.

Father John P. Dolan, 54, expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis in a statement to the Times of San Diego, and said he looked forward to “accompanying” Bishop McElroy in his ministry to the diocese.

In November 2016, Bishop McElroy praised Fr. Dolan’s parish, St. John the Evangelist in Hillcrest, for its “welcoming” attitude towards “LGBT worshippers.”

According to the Times of San Diego, Dolan will continue to serve as pastor at St. John the Evangelist. He will also continue to serve as Vicar for Clergy and as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish.

In December, LifeSiteNews reported that the director of young adult ministry at the St. John the Evangelist was an openly gay man who worked for the radical dissident group Call to Action. At the time St. John’s pictured a cross superimposed on a rainbow flag in its social media pages.

The LGBT activist group New Ways Ministry celebrated Fr Dolan’s appointment on its blog on Wednesday. Associate Editor Robert Shine quotes the bishop-elect as saying, “There are two different forms of doing church… One is very dialogical, from a dialogical sense, and the other is from a monological sense. And we have dealt with that monological world: Things come from on high, they get shelved in some pastor’s corner, then there’s some thought that comes down, but ultimately it’s all ‘We’re going to tell you what to think…’”

“Young adults have an acceptance of the LGBT experience. It is simply a part of their world, and they look at us, and say, ‘What is the problem?’”

Bishop McElroy told the San Diego Herald Tribune that Dolan’s appointment is in line with Pope Francis’ emphasis on appointing “pastors” rather than theologians.

“Less abstraction, and more knowledge of the nitty, gritty of life,” McElroy said.

Fr. Dolan had the first clue to his appointment when he checked his cell phone in the confessional and saw that he had missed a call from the papal nuncio in Washington D.C.

“Then I heard, ‘Bless me, Father, for I have sinned,” Dolan told the Herald Tribune. “Let me just say, that was the longest hour of confessions I’ve ever had.”

A lifelong resident of San Diego, the future auxiliary bishop went to local Catholic schools before attending St. Francis Seminary and the University of San Diego. He earned both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology degree at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park. He was ordained a priest in 1989 by Bishop Leo T. Maher.

Bishop Maher was an early critic of pro-LGBT Catholic “Dignity” and forbade his priests from celebrating Masses for the group. Nevertheless during his episcopacy, San Diego was rocked by scandals, including allegations by former seminarian Mark Brooksof homosexual orgies in St. Francis Seminary and his own eventual rape in 1982 by Father Nicholas Reveles. Reveles, who left the priesthood, always denied the story.

According to New Ways Ministry, the “Francis Effect” can be seen in recent episcopal appointments: Francis appointee Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky participated in the organization’s national symposium, and Francis appointee Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago has said both that LGBT people must “follow their consciences” and that the Church must be open to “new avenues and creativity when it comes to accompanying [non-traditional] families.”

Stating that “the pope’s influence on the U.S. episcopate is continuing to grow,” New Ways Ministry observes, hopefully, that “there are presently eight vacant dioceses, and several dozen bishops approaching the age of mandatory retirement.”

Believing that there are no coincidences, I have to believe that Jorge Mario Bergoglio, as pope, is part of GOD’s Plan. But, accepting that is like I am on a bridge to nowhere: my belief, my understanding just ends. Nevertheless, there absolutely must be a reason.

All I can come up with (so far) is that I, at the very least, was too comfortable with the leadership of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope St JohnPaul II. Altho Pope JohnPaul II did not become a part of my daily life (daily consciousness) until after his death (to my great loss), his prolific writing (both by him and about him) has allowed me some measure of contact. I was very aware of Pope Benedict XVI – even to the point of being able to literally reach out and touch his sleeve (and yes, I do have the photo to prove it); and again, his prolific writing has allowed me to continue the relationship. Altho I am not hardly in the same intellectual category as JohnPaul and Benedict, at least I do feel I am on the same page. I’m sure I don’t understand even half of their work, but their writings feel like home – this is where I want to be now, and this is what I want to grow into.

But with Pope Francis, all I am is confused.

I do enjoy Pope Francis’ “the pastor must smell like his sheep”; but, I know I do not smell at all like him. I think most Catholics need to hear, “love the sinner, hate the sin”; instead we got that infamous, “Who am I to judge?” I don’t know where he thinks we are, but one place we pew sitters are not is in a barque with a rudder.

“Decentralized”? Fragmented is what we have. I read about positions of bishops here in the USA, and I thank GOD that my archbishop seems not to have drunk very much of the “spirit of Vatican II” kool-aid. If I was in Germany, I think I would probably stop going to Mass entirely.

“Pastoral”? What is pastoral about “the tenderness of Jesus,” when He says, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you.” (John 6:26). To continue, “Many of His disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it? … As a result of this, many [of] His disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied Him.” (John 6:60-66) What should a “more pastoral” Jesus have said? “No, I didn’t mean that, not really. Come back.” Exactly who had the ‘closed hearts, the hearts of stone, the hearts which do not want to be open, do not want to hear’?

I have written in these pages about opportunity. Maybe the whole point of Francis is to give me the opportunity to test what I took for granted with JohnPaul and Benedict? Maybe. And for me, maybe a good thing. But, I think of the thousands (millions) who look to the Bishop of Rome for help in navigating daily life. They are, quite simply, adrift without a firm hand.

Yes, there are those that would point out that the “firm hand” of Rome has been entirely too firm throughout history. And that it must loosen its grip, if not release us altogether. And, if that happened what would make us Catholic? Frankly, I don’t want to be like everyone else. Would I have to stop believing in the Real Presence, just so Protestant heretics would feel more comfortable? It seems Pope Francis is headed in that direction. He certainly has no problem with various bishops in the US and Europe throwing open their arms and cathedral doors to those in direct violation of Canon Law. (No, Canon Laws 912 and 915 do not “leap” to mind; but those are the ones that I am thinking of.)

I don’t think those that crucified Jesus saw Him as a good ol’ boy. Neither was He their idea of a messiah. Rather, I think they viewed Him as a threat to their political position. Jesus was the most counter-cultural person ever. He never tried to “fit in”; and He was far more pastoral than anyone living in the marble that is Vatican City. (Not to put too fine a point on it, Jesus no doubt smelled more like His sheep than the current pope – not that anyone probably noticed. If you’ve spent any time in the Middle East, you know what I’m saying.)

To borrow from Jeff Mirus, “it is the hallmark of our seriously confused yet politically correct culture that all those under its influence must close their hearts again the message of Christ.” To which Pope Benedict added, “the Church will become small.”

Whatever the future holds for us, it won’t be business as usual.

Dr Jeff Mirus, in “Abyssus Abyssum Invocat” was the springboard for my essay

In his most recent column, Sam Guzman talks about this age of choice. One of his topic headings is “The Religion of Choice.” My instant gut-reaction was, “it’s more like the tyranny of choice” (with apologies to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and his “Tyranny of Relativism” – which may not be all that different, come to think of it).

Now, I am just ornery enough to look at society in this day and age and immediately dismiss it. Basically, if “everyone” wants it, I don’t. Yeah, sounds an awful lot like our two-year olds. But, I see so much crap these days that it seems like an automatic response to just turn around and walk away.

While we don’t watch commercial tv at home, my job requires that I am aware of the latest breaking news world-wide. Consequently, I see more tv at work than I can stand. And, since I work at night, it is “late night tv” – the very worst of a genre. If anything is worse than most of what is on the internet, it is late night tv – was life so terrible 40 years ago when the few tv stations “signed off” at night? But, I digress.

I am reminded of a book I read in high school: “From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor,” by Jerry della Femina. I see our consumer society divided into parts like: (1) those who create new products, (2) those that market new products, and (3) those that buy new products. Whatever the merits of that system, my point is that anyone of the three groups does have a choice. Put another way, just because you see it on late night tv and you can get two of ‘em for $19.95 (operators are standing by), it doesn’t mean you are being forced to buy it.

But, for some reason, we apparently feel we don’t have a choice (thus, the “tyranny”). I see religion as a matter of choice (don’t throw stones just yet); not choice as a matter of religion. So, I depart from Sam in characterizing choice as a religion. I realize he is making the case that true, honest-to-GOD religion (i.e., belief in GOD) has been largely replaced by a “smorgasbord, a veritably unlimited menu of options.” However, while it does seem that most of the people I know are making largely unconscious decisions in the “vast mall of choices,” I certainly do not.

Yeah, I am prone to agonizing – spending lots of time – over decisions. I have been thinking about buying a new computer. But, while I have reviewed a few (most recently a comparison between a Windows-based laptop and an Apple Mac), I just can’t force myself to spend the money to buy what would be essentially a toy. The fact is, I don’t actually need a new computer. So, the first hurdle is “want” versus “need.”

The second hurdle for me is “Where was it made?” I frankly don’t care where the executives of a particular company live; what I do care about is where the workers live. Although my parents are “white-collar,” their parents were not. So, my wife and I drive two Toyotas – both “made” (i.e., assembled) right here in the Good Ol’ U.S. of A. That said, I don’t believe a single computer is assembled here, and certainly none of the parts are made here. (Yes, I do own a cell phone, but that comes under the “need” category.) When it comes to clothing, if it is made in China, I walk away. Needing (yes, needing) a battery-powered drill (screwdriver), I recently bought a pair from DeWalt; even though they were considerably more expensive than the variously colored competition on the shelf/on-line. Last year, I bought a toolbox for my pickup truck; I went with “Weathergard.” Again, because of where they were made. Conscious, deliberate decisions.

And now that I have two Munchkins under foot, I ask myself what I will be leaving them. Do I want to buy cheap now, knowing it won’t last; or do I want to bequeath something of value? In the world of values, what do I want to teach them (and, GOD willing, what will they learn)? Do I want to impress upon them the attitude of, whatever it is, it can be easily discarded and replaced? In fact, I do see value in commitment, in staying the course, loyalty (the hardest concepts for me to learn).

Sadly, I was seduced years ago by the view that it was better for the kids to divorce than it was for warring parents to try to raise them. Knowing what I know now, my first marriage would likely have ended in divorce eventually; but at the time, I had not looked very closely at my options – I simply did not perform the “due diligence” I now feel I should have. Part of that process (which should have included reading Venerable Archbishop Sheen’s “Three to Get Married”) should have entertained the possibility that divorce would forever rupture my relationship with my daughter (other than cashing the checks I send her for her birthday and Christmas, she will have nothing to do with me).

While the parallels between being a consumer of stuff and a consumer of relationships (more specifically, marriage) seem very close, they are galaxies apart. It really doesn’t matter if I buy a screwdriver that won’t and I reduce it to a pry-bar or chisel (shudder); but it really does matter if I do everything I can (and more) to stay married. It matters to my wife, it matters to our kids and it matters most of all to GOD. And, I guess, ultimately, it matters to me: my salvation absolutely depends on my relationship to GOD.

Stay the course. Run the race. Keep the faith.

Oh, the above comment, “I see religion as a matter of choice,” I meant just as a literary device. To be perfectly honest (and clear), I am convinced that Faith is a gift we are given – it’s not something we make an intellectual decision about.

“A Vow of Stability: A Call to Commitment in an Age of Choice,” Sam Guzman on “The Catholic Gentleman”

You might recall from my last posting that I was recently introduced to a local “mega-church.” (Well, more to the parking lot of one.)

As we approached the mega-church building, because my wife had discovered an inside play area for toddlers, I wondered where the church was. We parked, got the Twins out of the car, into their double-wide and walked through the front door. At least, I guessed it was the front door because it reminded me of the front door of many hotels I have stayed in.

Immediately inside the door, I was confronted by a very long (half-a-football field?) hallway that was fully three stories to the ceiling (if not four). Now, I’m feeling like I’m in a mall.

Still, the nagging question: where’s the church? Or, more specifically, the sanctuary?

We walked past a bank of stations – computer monitors and keyboards. We walked past a coffee bar. We got to the play area. Still, no clue at all where the sanctuary, if any, might be.

The Twins got bored in about an hour, so I tried to buy some time by letting them run the hallway. Of course, that wasn’t interesting, and they quickly found a side hallway. This apparently had classrooms lining both sides. That too, was boring, so we packed up and left. (I shared my parking lot experience in the previous post.) We got home and un-packed ….

I never figured out where the sanctuary was, but now I didn’t care. What I was hung up on was why. Why was that church so much different from what I am used to?

Gradually, over the course of the day, it occurred to me:

The Catholic religion is all about worship. We go to Mass (or, “Sunday service,” if you prefer) to worship. At least most still do. A growing number go for another reason; the same reason I suspect that there are such things as “mega-churches”: the social aspect. There are bars and coffee shops and mega-churches.

I have “observed” (complained, more like it) in these pages about the pew-sitters who treat the sanctuary like a bus station (which is not a nice thing to say about bus stations). I suppose, if I sat in the front pew, I wouldn’t notice those that think it their mission to regale everyone within ear shot with their opinion of some sports event, or restaurant experience; or those that come in late and leave early.

I’ve always felt that church sanctuaries (any denomination) were places that were supposed to be different from the “outside” world. More like a library than a sports stadium. One of the things I have loved about being a tourist during business trips around the world is walking into an empty church that was also quiet; that not only allowed, but encouraged prayer and meditation. No hustle, no bustle. If nothing else, a retreat, however momentary. Sanctuaries that looked like a church and not a movie theater.

And, having been an altar boy in the world before Vatican 2, I prefer a Mass where everyone was quiet, if not reverent. Where, if you needed a place to collect your thoughts, you could walk in and sit down and find some peace – either just before or just after Mass, or, indeed almost any time during the week.

That seems to be pure fiction these days. Imagine, changing your behavior to fit the circumstances! You know: “use your inside voice.”

The parish I belong to now, and the one immediately prior both sported buildings that are fairly modern. In fact, the church I grew up in was cut from the same cloth. (Full disclosure: two parishes ago, I lived in Rome – ‘nuf said.)

It’s funny how much I hate to rely on “Christian” to describe who I am, because there are so many flavors of “Christian,” that if I didn’t know better, I’d say the term described precisely nothing. The same seems to be true of buildings where people meet: some are called churches, but how they differ from a mall, or a movie theater, I don’t know.

There are a lot of hymns that I got introduced to and learned to love while I was attending a Disciples of Christ Church, years ago. Quite a few of those I prefer to most of the so-called “Catholic hymns” that have been inflicted on us. One of those “Protestant” hymns that I know only vaguely is “(Give me that) old time religion.” Somehow, I don’t think the meaning is intended to be “pre-Luther/Calvin”; though I am thankful that my religion places its emphasis on GOD and not man.

I realize two posts in as many days is rather more of a fire hose than a straw; but rest assured that I won’t be able to maintain this blistering pace.

I had several thoughts for my next post (i.e., this one); but I was not able to jot them down when they came to me, and are likely now gone forever. That said, a post I just read got me going in another direction: Simcha Fisher’s “Six Sermons I could do without” (I read this in “The Catholic Weekly,” thanks to a link from NewAdvent.com; but she also blogs at simchafisher.com). Like her, I have spent a few years sitting in the pew, enthralled by some homilies, barely enduring others. And while her opening paragraph is a story about a priest who can’t avoid complaints, and her post is critical, it is not all negative.

First, I want to go on record as saying in my 62 years, I have never gone w/o access to a priest. Not that I always took advantage of the opportunity to attend Mass (sadly); but in my world travels, and time in the military, when I went looking for a priest, there always was one. Until moving a year ago, I was a member of a small group (less than a dozen adults) that met on Friday evenings to pray the Stations of the Cross for Priests. It was only then that I came to fully appreciate what priests have meant in my life. I shudder to think what kind of person I would be like today if (a) my mother didn’t make me go to Mass as a kid, and (b) there weren’t priests available.

So, I would be among the last to criticize the guy in the pulpit.

That said, I would like to use Simcha’s post as a springboard (read her post if you want her words). The bullet points are hers, the comments are mine.

The Catechetical Dump

A recent online poll by Church Militant dot com asked what was the biggest problem facing the Church today. Of all of the issues that came to mind, I voted for catechesis – altho that one certainly doesn’t get front page in the secular (“news”) media. Following this train of thought, a priest is confronted by a congregation that spends in the neighborhood of one hour a week actually thinking about religion. Maybe. Furthermore, the congregation is an amalgam (hodgepodge, more like it) of wildly differing educations, etc. (that list is really too long to enumerate) – how do you address that mess?

As I alluded to earlier, I am a “cradle” Catholic. I never attended any religious school, attending “CCD” classes once-a-week while growing up (Baltimore Catechism). And I think those classes ended in elementary school. I was very active in the Catholic youth group “CYO” in high school, and then I fell off the deep end, or journeyed out into the wilderness, or something. W/o getting bogged down in the story of my return to the Church (here, anyway), I would just like to say that, in the past five years, I have learned – entirely on my own (unfortunately) – more about the Church than I ever learned in the previous half-century (am I that old, really?).

But, how about my fellow pew-sitters? Judging from what I see at Mass, I’d have to say I am among those who don’t NEED the “entire Faith” in 10 minutes – I spend about an hour a day on my own (lots of prayer, lots of reading, and hopefully lots more writing). I wish I had the time to spend hours every day. But, how does the priest say something to interest me, when sitting next to me is someone who is texting?

Yelling at the Choir

I go to Mass for an almost heretical reason: not to socialize, but to be closer to GOD. It astounds me that supposed “adults” can walk into the Sanctuary and talk about who the Seahawks are playing as if everyone in the place wants to hear their opinion. Or, come in late and leave early. I show up for Mass, almost always in plenty of time to pray a Rosary (which takes me at least half an hour). To get my head in the game, as it were. But, as my mother has often said, at least they come. Yeah, well there is that (as I mutter under my breath, “Why did they come?”).

Lent is a good time for me to go to Mass because I feel that Mass is penance. Yes, I am well aware of Church teaching as to why I should go to Mass; but it takes great effort on my part to put up with the “Turn to your neighbor and say ‘hi’”; and that peace thing. I see absolutely no point in holding hands during the Our Father. Don’t get me started on the faux orans (see Dr Edward Peters). And receiving the Eucharist in the hands? Oi vey.

I wear a St Benedict’s Crucifix on a chain around my neck. I always wear it – outside my clothing, not hidden away. I was once mistaken for a religious (of some sort). I’m sure most people wonder if I hide it away the moment I walk out of the church after Mass; I don’t. It’s fully visible at work, in stores, etc. I am proclaiming, “I am Catholic – this is who I am.” I am also reminding myself that I am Catholic (it – the Crucifix – is heavy; it’s a wonder I haven’t knocked out a tooth).

But, to look at the resident sister at the parish of which I am a member, you would never know she was a religious. Never in a thousand years. For shame. (She has her hair “done,” she always wears clothes that any other (older) woman would, she never has any sort of religious token visible, she never covers her head during Mass.)

Sit, Stand, Kneel, Bow and Beyond

I don’t go to Mass to be entertained. Father, please don’t even try. I don’t care if Gonzaga got to the Final Four – and I certainly don’t want to launch into my Mass experience that way. But, my gripe with Father Feel Good is his insistence on editing the Nicene Creed.

I first ran into this in Rome at Santa Susanna, which is administered by the Paulists. Both priests assigned there never vocalized “men” while leading the congregation in the Creed. Now, I have to put up with the same s**t from the priest that helps out (technically, he is not assigned to the parish I attend). I understand the desire to be inclusive – I do. But, to my knowledge no “mere” diocesan priest has been given dispensation to choose what words to say during Mass. If you want to sit down over coffee and donuts and talk about it, fine, great.

That said, it is ironic that the book of Sunday Mass readings and hymns now has an insert inside the front cover with the Nicene Creed (I guess because it is too difficult to find the Creed in the Order of the Mass on page 9).

When I genuflect (facing the Tabernacle that is hidden away in a small chapel off the Sanctuary – really?), I touch my knee to the floor. I’ve stopped looking for anyone else who goes to such extremes. I haven’t figured out if it’s better to fake a genuflection or a bow. I’ll get back to you on that.

Miracle debunkers

I am blessed that I have seldom been subjected to wannabe Biblical scholars or would be theologians. No doubt any priest who delivers a homily has more formal education in these areas than I do. But, I do know enough to know when someone is trying to dumb-down the Bible.

Political rallies

From my reading, I know that this past year (including the recently concluded race for the White House) has been full to overflowing with politics disguised as Church teaching. If “politics is local,” then Faith is the exact opposite.

Altho I can state the exact date that I decided to come back to the Church, it was no Damascus Road. It was 2005 and my awareness of the priest sex scandal was growing. The more I learned (and have learned since; the movie “Spotlight” ought to be required viewing for all Catholics), the less sure I was that I wanted to return. I was overseas at the time, but when I returned to the States, I found Tabernacles hidden away in what amounted to a closet, the priest facing the congregation instead of the Tabernacle and Crucifix, and just last year, a Crucifix that frankly was abhorrent (to say it was Andy Warhol’s idea of a Crucifix does him no credit). What happened to my Church while I was gone (in a distant country / desert)?

Fortunately, Joseph Ratzinger was the Successor to Peter at the time, and his scholarship only encouraged me. I have been most formed by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope St John Paul II (my only son is named after him).

Now, I am as confused by Pope Francis as I was strengthened by his two predecessors. I am quite sure Pope Francis is part of GOD’s plan; but it only serves to remind me that I have no idea at all what His Plan is.

Politics have always been part of the Church. Only now it is blatantly obviously in opposition to the teachings of the Fathers and Doctors.

Baby shaming

Actually, the pastor at the parish of which I am a member has been very encouraging of bringing my kids to Mass. At one Mass, my 15 month old daughter got away from me, and I didn’t catch up with her until she had passed the first row pews. Father incorporated her eagerness to “come to Jesus” into his homily (pretty slick, huh?). So, why was she able to make a break for it? Well, I thought I was watching her twin brother, and my wife thought ….

However, we have received suggestions from others in the pews that maybe the little ones were too distracting (something like that).

Too be fair, while the Twins do need to get into the routine of going to Mass, I need to do a better job of entertaining them during Mass (or corralling them). It is not fair to those who really do want to have a worshipful experience. On the other hand, several older congregants have been absolutely delighted in meeting “young persons.”

Finally, let me echo Simcha’s last line: “Thank you for your service to us and to GOD.”

Dr Edward Peters, “Another Look at the Orans Issue,” www.canonlaw.info; also The Catholic Exchange, June 2005